Exactly. Same time, just different reality. First thing I noticed was that the flight attendant handed Jack one extra bottle of vodka, where she originally gave him two. So the explosion changed their past (clearly, Desmond is on the plane!) - presumably everything since 1977 (or whenever) has at least had minor changes, and perhaps major changes.
Very cool to get see how "Jacob's nemesis as the new Locke" played out. And it pretty much confirms that he's also Christian, and Shannon, and Alex and whoever else died and reappeared. What I don't know is what accounts for Walt appearing to Locke after Ben shot him (Walt didn't die), and whether Claire died when she went off with "Bad Christian". Also, does Hugo really talk with Dead Charlie, or is DC someone else? I can't reconcile DC or Claire being Jacob's nemesis because they both show up off-island (and we don't even know if Claire died).
Was the underwater scene (Atlantis?) a new opening sequence, or was it part of the story? It sure looked hokey.

Soon, the origin of 'The Others' will be revealed.

I really think that ---NT--- is on to something. Reading the interview I get the feeling that this side by side thing is 2 realities happening at the same time.

Little thoughts:
I also noticed how she only gave Jack one extra bottle of alcohol. Also I thought it was pretty interesting how Charlie said, I was supposed to die. Does that mean anything? Who knows! It was interesting that Rose was the strong one and Jack seemed scared and extremely worked up. Roles reversed? As far as the man who is Jacobs nemisis, him taking over Locke is insane, however I think the reason Jacob wasn't worried when Ben killed him(Jacob) is because he somehow knew that he would have a chance to come back and he wasn't scared. Exactly why he instructed Hurley to take Sayid to the temple. He knew they couldn't save him but he would have his loophole.

When talking about the man in black, I DO think that he is Christian, Shannon and Alex. It seems that those times when those characters have appeared are only negative(seemingly) interactions to cause fear. I do not think Charlie is part of this, however who truly knows?!

I have a hunch that this season is going to require a lot of thinking.

I have missed a few of the earlier shows - What was Bad Locke referring to when he said the last time he saw Richard, he was in chains?
Or was this not previously revealed?

ok so Glenn and I spoke a little about it this morning.

-did anybody notice the woman who recognized them at the temple was the stewardess from the airplace. (I'm pretty sure anyways)

-the ash/dust ring that was around Jacob's cabin comes up again.

-how did juliette know "it worked".

-Desmond on the plane. wtf???

-Kate is such a srs babe.

I thought it was funny that the "Holy" water wasn't clear anymore...looked like someone took a leak in it.

so sad shannon wasn't on the plane... hopefully they'll show her back in Australia with a bikini

Yes, that was her...and the tailie children!


That was badass how the smoke monster circumvented the ash to kill the guy who poured the small ash circle around him!


Yeah, this seems like it should be a pretty major part of the story. Did she technically die for a brief period of time? If so, maybe her consciousness reunited with her alternate self? Maybe it's not even necessary that she died briefly - people who are in their last moments have described what it's like to pass on...perhaps as she was dying she was also reuniting? I don't know - there were so many moments where I was all like "WTF!!?!???!?!??!???!??!?".

I agree that Jacob is now inside of Sayid's body...maybe?

also, a little annoyed by the new gang of "islanders" but I have been every time and then am won over...I like the actor who's playing the interpreter dude, so we'll see. It was kind of funny because it even felt like Jorge Garcia the actor, not his character, was running through the motions of meeting yet another group of strange people for the upteenth time.

I don't recall when Shannon reappears after her death in Season 2. Who did she show up in front of, Sayid?



I'm also confused about this as well, cause not only does Locke see Walt, so does Shannon, which leads up to her death.

I totally forgot that!!! What is the deal with that? Just another thought I'm putting into the bank in my head. haha

they aren't new though. they have been aluded to since season 1 and we're just seeing them now. I was always curious as to when they would show them.

wow...I always just assumed that it was just the others when they were "in costume" trying to scare the oceanic folks...good memory, Alex...

I think these others could be one of the most exciting things for me.
Also did anyone see the preview for next weeks episode with jack seeing "the list"
OMFG.

So the Others (led by Ben) dressed like the "New" Others to confuse the survivors?

Maybe?

No they are all the same "others" which is why they shot the Huge firework, that oddly enough made such a little explosion, to warn Richard Alpert that Apep (New Locke, a.k.a. Smoke Monster) was free, and then proceeded to place the ash around the campsite.

The only reason they look sort of ragged up now is because they abandoned all the stations where they use to stay which contained all the supplies. And they now stay in the Temple, since the "REAL" Locke told them that he will be the one to lead them to safety, and moved them from the campsite where they were before.

I think the water isn't clear anymore because Jacob is now dead (but none of the others knew at the time, which is why they were surprised that it wasn't clear) and the Japanese leader was testing it which is why he cut himself and placed his hand inside it, but didn't heal. He then told Jack and Kate that they could throw Sayid in but "it will be risky" because the noticed the water didn't have the same healing properties as before but I'm guessing they had no choice but to try since Sayid was gonna die either way. But did anyone notice that after they drowned Sayid he didn't have the bullet wound anymore.

what he said!

Jack met her before in the Episode where he was locked up in the Mini Island (Prison Island) where he has to operate on Ben and he gets to know Juliette in season 3. He briefly speaks to the stewardess, and she had already converted to the others at the time.



No Hurley really talks to dead people. It's not just Charlie, Jacob goes to him because he knew Hugo could talk to people. And don't forget that he was playing chess with Eckko and got help from Anna Lucia when he was carrying Sayid around with blood all over. He also talked to his girlfriend Libby after she died (which, by the way, is gonna make a return this season, and they also said they're gonna explain why she was in the institution with Hurley).

I don't think Apep has been pretending to be all of these people since Hurley met them outside of the island, and Apep isn't able to leave it.

I loved that the Temple decor and costumes were soooo redolant of "New Age" communities and cults. A little bit of Rajneesh here, nods to smorgasbord spirituality with the mixed Egyptian and Asian motifs over there, a bit of hippy thrown in for connotative flair. It wasn't overtly funny but I was pretty amused anyway. The show's design folks are brilliant in their subtle suggestiveness.

I saw this as being in similar vein to how all things Dharma Initiative are also a bit '70s culty, with a bit of CIA mind control, utopian social experimentation and interrogation tactics tacked on. It's sort of like how in the original "Watchmen" series, the more you know about alternative history, the more you get out of the fiction.

I need to re-read the theories about the use of the colors black and white. The symbolism seems to be becoming more pronounced and obvious.

It was really cool to see Hurley be so assertive regarding "the hole in the wall" and have everyone trust him. I'd love to see him end up becoming a more self-confident person. Poor dude has had a lot of weird knocks in life, not that having Cheech Marin as a dad would be all bad mind you.

I just watched the new episodes and clueless to why they need that Japanese guy. how he can speak English but refuses to. I would hate to be that translator. "Just say it in English you arrogant fuck!"

Is it me or does Jack get his ass kicked routinely every season? That Asian guy in the temple handed it to him with ease.

That's because he is Samurai!

I love that guy. I'm glad they added him. Even though it made no sense.

I think he is a great addition. He is also one of the bad guys in Rush Hour 3.

This is really cool:

Oceanic 815 Side by Side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-1qzelS ... dded#at=16